HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - August 21, 2002 Public CommentContinued August 21, 2002
F. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS
• Arthur Price stated that he received a document from Public Works Director Prima regarding
water and wastewater delivery. He recalled that Stan Harkness often reminded Council that
aging sewer pipes should be a top priority. Mr. Price acknowledged, in hindsight, the
accurateness of Mr. Harkness' plea. He stated that rates for a one -bedroom apartment have
increased $8.57 and a two-bedroom home has increased $11.69. For those on a fixed
income, these increases are difficult to bear. He recommended a roll back of the rate
increases on one -bedroom apartments and two-bedroom homes. He asked that the City take
a proactive approach by sending out a reply card in utility bills so that older people, who
perhaps otherwise would be too embarrassed, could respond by mail without a lot of
paperwork. Mr. Price also stated that he received communication from Community
Development Director Bartlam regarding the Redevelopment Agency. He believed that in
regard to this issue, "perception and reality get very blurred." The City is coming across as
not caring much about the east side. Residents of the east side see themselves being driven
out of their homes by rate increases and possibly by the Redevelopment Agency.
Council Member Land displayed an overhead of a bill comparison from August 2001 to
August 2002 (filed). He stated that rates for electricity have gone down and noted that 750
kilowatt hours in 2001 totaled $109.36, while 925 kilowatt hours in 2002 totaled $125.99. He
reviewed charges for water and wastewater infrastructure replacement, noting that Lodi's
rates are favorable. He described programs available for low-income customers and
encouraged all those qualified to take advantage of them.
Council Member Nakanishi agreed with Mr. Land and stated that the City has tried to care for
low-income citizens. He reported that Electric Utility Director Vallow stated two days ago that
Lodi has used more electricity in the past two months than ever before in its history.
• Jane Lea thanked Council Member Nakanishi for his support and foresight in recognizing that
the Redevelopment Agency is not right for Lodi. She also thanked former City Council
Members and Mayors for their signatures on the referendum petition and support in
recognizing that the newly -formed Redevelopment Agency is not what Lodi needs. She
thanked the volunteers who committed countless hours in obtaining signatures in an effort to
give the citizens, not staff, a choice through voting on the issue of whether to enlarge the
City's government. She declared that the citizens who signed the petition want their voice
heard through voting, on decisions that would adversely affect the community for decades.
Ms. Lea announced that the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters certified 3,594
signatures out of over 4,400 collected.
• Eileen St. Yves commented that she had informed all the residents of her apartments about
the City's low-income programs, and in addition they have been given a discount for their
recycling efforts. She pointed out that in Stockton water is metered and customers pay for
every drop. She believed it would have been better if rates were increased 3% a year for ten
years, rather than 30% in one year.
• Camille Green disagreed with Mr. Land's bill comparison figures and reported that her friend
used 19 kilowatts per day last year at $62 and 18 kilowatts this year at $106. She stated that
one person who signed the referendum petition against the redevelopment plan received a
phone call from an owner of a restaurant in town who informed them they were banned from
his property. In addition the caller stated that he had been talking to Council for ten years
about the Redevelopment Plan and the Redevelopment Agency had been considering it for
that length of time. Ms. Green asked why the citizens were not informed earlier about this
issue and whether secret meetings were being held. She cited this as a reason for citizen's
mistrust of Council.
Mayor Pennino reported that the signatures on the petition are confidential. He clarified that
formal discussions about the Redevelopment Plan did not take place until 1997-98. Over 11
public hearings on the subject were held and every property owner in the redevelopment area
received at least one mailed notification. In addition, residents of the redevelopment area
were allowed to vote on the Project Area Committee.
3
Bill Comparison August 2001 to August 2002
based on observed average consumption change
Bill for Consumption in
August 2001 Energy Use (Units Used)
750 kwh
Kwh
Regular Rate
440 0 $0.09847 $43.33
310 0 $0.13318 $41.29
Market Cost Adjustment
300 @ $0.02500
300 @ $0.03500
150 0 $0.04500
Total EUD Charges
Water 3 Bedroom
Watewater
Solid Waste
Subtotal Non-EUD
Total Lodi Bill
$7.50
$10.50 Actual
$6.75 Rate $/kwh
$109.36 $0.146
$12.45-
$8.90
$18.56
$39.91
$149.27
Bill for Consumption in
August 2002 Energy Use (Units Used)
925 kwh
Kwh
Regular Rate
440 0 $0.09847 $43.33
485 0 $0.13318 $64.59
Market Cost Adjustment -
300 @ $0.02500 $7.50
300 @ $0.03500 $10.50
325 0 $0.04500 $14.63 Actual
Home Comfort Discount 414.56 Rate $/kwh
Total EUD $125.99 $0.136
Water 3 Bedroom ;_ $12.45
Infra Repl Water $7.00
Watewater $8.90
Infr Repl WW $7.31
Solid Waste $18.84
Subtotal Non-EUD $54.50
Total Lodi Bill $180.49